UPDATED 6/25, 3:10 p.m.:At least one brand—Parfums Christian Dior—removed its Bella Hadid-featuring campaign from the Dubai Mail newspaper after an outcry from readers.
"For appeasement, Parfums Christian Dior has removed its visuals of Bella Hadid in the Dubai Mail," a spokesperson told The National.
Other instances of Hadid’s presence being removed from ads have been shared online as well.
See original story below.
Bella Hadid has been hit with a wave of internet backlash after posting a culturally insensitive photo that some felt disrespected Arab countries.
On Sunday, the 22-year-old model posted a photo on her Instagram story of her shoe sitting against an airport window. In the background of the photo were three airplanes, two of which had the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia flags. However, the angle of the photo made it seem like Hadid was kicking the flags with the sole of her foot, which is disrespectful in Arab culture.
The photo prompted the creation of the hashtag #BellaHadidIsRacist, with many Twitter users demanding brands like Calvin Klein and Dior to stop working with the model. Hadid—whose father is Palestinian—posted an apology on Instagram and Twitter, in both English and Arabic.
“I am posting this to clear up a few things that have been weighing on my heart,” Hadid wrote on Monday. “To begin, I would never want my posts or platform to be used for hate against anyone, especially those of my own beautiful & powerful heritage. I love and care so much about the Muslim and Arab side of my family, as well as my brothers and sisters throughout the world.”
“Not only do I have so much respect from the bottom of my heart, I have always tried to stand up for what I feel is right, especially regarding the great Middle East.”
She also tweeted, “this was an honest mistake on an early morning... never, ever would I intentionally try to offend anyone like that. I am so sorry.”
